Picked up my new to me E92 M3 last Wednesday and finally getting around to making a thread for it. Been too busy driving it around!

Background: A few years ago, I was in the market for what I think is one of the best looking cars BMW has ever made, the E46 M3. Imola red on black, 6MT. While they were in my price range, unfortunately, the S54 with all it's VANOS issues just scared me away. I decided to just stay put and do nothing (shocking, I know).

Then a couple of months ago, I decided that life was just too short, and I was going to go for an E92 M3. Why? Simple... the car is over 4 years old and is STILL winning comparisons. Having driven it extensively in Germany (LINK), I just fell in love with it. It's just the middle point of my two favorite BMW's: The E46 M3 and the E39 M5.

I was absolutely dead set on a Melbourne Red M3 with a CF roof. Alas, no such luck in my price range. Then this beauty showed up on my Autotrader alert. A Sparkling Graphite, Bamboo Beige, 6MT and a CF roof (you'd be really surprised how many came with sunroofs). While Sparkling Graphite was my second color choice, it was just too good to pass up. This color was only made for 1 year on the M3! Not to mention the car was fully loaded, 1 owner (traded to a Porsche dealership), had all sets of keys. Inspection revealed that it needed a new oil cap. That's it!

I will keep updating this thread throughout my ownership from start to finish... well there probably won't be a finish. In terms of mods, nothing too crazy. I've already replaced the front reflectors and have replica CF splitters on the way. I'm also going to the OEM exhaust mod (4 pipes version).

From Autotrader.com:

Right before the car was loaded onto the truck for the long cross country trip:

Hi Alex, I'm very familiar with your car. That's actually what convinced me to pull the trigger on this particular car!

As such, our cars will be quite similar
- Splitters already on the way. As you can see, reflectors have already been replaced
- I would absolutely love to get ZCP wheels, but leave it silver. Also toying around with the idea of BBS LM's way down the road.
- Leaving all the chrome on the car. I know, I know, some people think that's heresy. Personally, I think it provides a nice contrast and highlights the kidney grills.
- FL taillights.

Honestly, that's about it. Mostly cosmetic mods as you can see. That's how it always starts and goes down hill from there

Forgot to mention, this car was owned by a physician before. It has 60k miles, but looks absolutely MINT on the outside

This was literally the only other color that I'd pick besides MR or Individual. The only downside is that the CF parts/roof don't show as much, but I'm ok with that.

Hi Alex, I'm very familiar with your car. That's actually what convinced me to pull the trigger on this particular car!

As such, our cars will be quite similar
- Splitters already on the way. As you can see, reflectors have already been replaced
- I would absolutely love to get ZCP wheels, but leave it silver. Also toying around with the idea of BBS LM's way down the road.
- Leaving all the chrome on the car. I know, I know, some people think that's heresy. Personally, I think it provides a nice contrast and highlights the kidney grills.
- FL taillights.

Honestly, that's about it. Mostly cosmetic mods as you can see. That's how it always starts and goes down hill from there

Forgot to mention, this car was owned by a physician before. It has 60k miles, but looks absolutely MINT on the outside

lol Me to I tought at first that I would've prefered more contrast between the paint and the cf roof but finally after I putted the splitters and spoiler I'm really happy that it blends with the paint, I think it look a bit less out of place then on most colors. As for the ZCP's, great choice, I also think that one day I'll go with a more classic look with silver ZCPs and chrome accents, I'll just wait when I'll be in need of changes, you know how it is, I think they call that the mod bug!

Don't forget to update us with pics of your mods specially if you go with the ZCPs in silver, oh and speaking of mod bug, I ordered a supercharger last week!!

lol Me to I tought at first that I would've prefered more contrast between the paint and the cf roof but finally after I putted the splitters and spoiler I'm really happy that it blends with the paint, I think it look a bit less out of place then on most colors. As for the ZCP's, great choice, I also think that one day I'll go with a more classic look with silver ZCPs and chrome accents, I'll just wait when I'll be in need of changes, you know how it is, I think they call that the mod bug!

Don't forget to update us with pics of your mods specially if you go with the ZCPs in silver, oh and speaking of mod bug, I ordered a supercharger last week!!

Good luck with the project!

Wow congrats on the supercharger! Like I said, I can't hang with you guys. This is my first M, and it has more hp than both my E30 and E46 combined haha. When I wanted to go for Melbourne Red, there was no doubt I would change to the BMW black gloss grills. Now that I've got a Sparkling Graphite, it's just such a classy color combo that I'm going to go with that OEM angle.

Was watching Chasing Classic Cars, and they had a gunmetal on tobacco leather Ferrari 275 Lusso. It looked absolutely epic.

I can't help but wonder what Sparkling Graphite would look like with the Cinnamon leather from the E46 M3. I think once my interior wears down enough, I'll experiment with dying it Cinnamon. I know stock M3's will be worth them most in the future, but interiors are easy enough to swap.

Wow congrats on the supercharger! Like I said, I can't hang with you guys. This is my first M, and it has more hp than both my E30 and E46 combined haha. When I wanted to go for Melbourne Red, there was no doubt I would change to the BMW black gloss grills. Now that I've got a Sparkling Graphite, it's just such a classy color combo that I'm going to go with that OEM angle.

Was watching Chasing Classic Cars, and they had a gunmetal on tobacco leather Ferrari 275 Lusso. It looked absolutely epic.

I can't help but wonder what Sparkling Graphite would look like with the Cinnamon leather from the E46 M3. I think once my interior wears down enough, I'll experiment with dying it Cinnamon. I know stock M3's will be worth them most in the future, but interiors are easy enough to swap.

This would look biblical with a clean S.graph exterior :

Anyone have a spare interior they want to donate to the cause?

to each his own taste but I prefere by far your Bamboo interior, I would trade my Fox red in a heartbeat for that color!!

to each his own taste but I prefere by far your Bamboo interior, I would trade my Fox red in a heartbeat for that color!!

If you were closer and had non-extended FR, I'd seriously consider it! But I've really grown to love S.graph and Bamboo Beige, it just works so well. I've never seen an S.graph M3 in real life, yet alone one with this leather interior.

If you were closer and had non-extended FR, I'd seriously consider it! But I've really grown to love S.graph and Bamboo Beige, it just works so well. I've never seen an S.graph M3 in real life, yet alone one with this leather interior.

What supercharger kit did you go with?

Me too it's the first time I see your combo of colors and I got to admit, it look outragously beautifull, the Bamboo interior just look so rich!! I think with that interior, your best choice is really to keep the car looking classy. I tought Bamboo only came on the late years of the model!

I went with the ESS VT1-535, just can't wait to drive the car with it!!

congrats on your new ride i love the color combo, SGM is such a gorgeous color, good luck with all the mods, and btw i pass by this dealership sometimes lol, but once again congrats and keep us posted!!